Our ITU Telecom community's COVID-19 response

The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has dramatically highlighted the importance of the digital technology in our businesses, societies and individual lives. We've been talking to our global community of ITU Telecom participants from events past and present to find out more on their response to the pandemic - and we're more impressed than ever with their creativity and innovative use of technology.

Swiss SME Spectroplast, exhibitors at ITU Telecom World 2019 in Budapest, are using their 3D printing expertise to produce silicone attachments for breathing masks urgently needed by the medical sector.

Philippe Vuilleumier, Head of Security at Swisscom, warns that cybersecurity breaches have increased dramatically since the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis – and shares some simple steps we can take to protect ourselves online.

Working closely with other government departments, BSCL is fast-tracking its plans to tackle illiteracy in Bangladesh with dedicated educational TV channels available to all students amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

GVG provides digital tools to improve regulatory oversight and auditing – and VP of Strategy Daryl Bhana outlines here just how critical this is for governments across Africa as they search for new financing mechanisms and revenue streams to address the current crisis.

Bangladeshi digital solutions provider Elegant IT Limited explain how the COVID-19 crisis offers an opportunity to support women and differently-abled people through free online training courses, home office and freelancing opportunities – putting talents to work and mobilizing marginalized communities.

South African health care portal and application WatIf focuses on protecting those with underlying health conditions who are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 – through digital tools, testing and management of home-based chronic diseases.

Leading satellite services provider Inmarsat outlines how they are making sure mobile satellite services remain accessible for essential workers and emergency responders without access to terrestrial networks in times of need.

Angolan telecom multinational Angola Cables is joining up with partners in Brazil to build an intelligent diagnosis system to detect COVID-19 from x-ray or tomography images – making the crucial testing process quick and easy.

From reducing the cost of mobile money transactions to broadcasting educational content and offering additional spectrum resources, the Communications Authority of Kenya outlines how ICTs are at the forefront of the fight against the impact of COVID-19.

World in Sign partners with businesses and communities around the world to empower deaf and hard-of-hearing populations through quality access to communicaton and technology – more important than ever in the isolation of the COVID-19 crisis.

Global Plan’s Dr. Haruo Okamura outlines how his Broadband Infrastructure for Remote-Area Digitalization solution can accelerate optical cable connectivity – and help close the urban-rural digital divide that the COVID-19 crisis has dramatically highlighted.

Argentinian non-profit Ada ITW focus on closing the gender gap in the IT industry – and came to ITU Telecom World 2019 as part of EQUALS. Here they tell us about the free programming workshops and home office information they’re offering in response to the crisis.

Ten golden rules to protect employees forced to work from home from the increased danger of cyber attack – provided by leading IT security company and long-standing ITU Telecom partner Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity.

From multilingual information campaigns to new MNO resource sharing initiatives and measures to protect critical telecom infrastructure, the Nigerian Communications Commission is playing a major role in combatting the pandemic.